BIG defender Robert Huth has given Boro cause for concern after picking up a worrying ankle injury.

The German international can not be fully assessed until the swelling has settled down.

With Emanuel Pogatetz not available from suspension until October 25, manager Gareth Southgate may have to carry on with the thin last line of defence which helped pull off a valuable win at Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

Southgate told the Evening Gazette today: “Robert has a problem with his ankle ligaments but we don’t yet know the full extent of the injury.

“The area is very swollen and it’s difficult to give an accurate assessment at this stage.

“However we should have a clearer picture by the end of the week.”

Huth, pictured, who missed his first game of the season at the JJB stadium, would seem to have very little chance of being fit for Boro’s next match against Chelsea On October 18.

Skipper Pogatetz is suspended for that game as he completes his three-match ban, while left-back Andrew Taylor could be out for about three weeks with a hip injury.

It leaves Boro walking a tightrope in terms of numbers, and Southgate is keeping his fingers crossed the international break does not deal Boro another bad hand.

Last time he lost Tuncay and Mohamed Shawky through injury, which interrupted the team’s impetus.

Southgate said: “The international break wasn’t too kind to us last time.

“We’ve got a lot of players away again this week. in fact we’ve got only six or seven left.

“Hopefully everybody will come back fine this time. After the win against Wigan, everybody will want to play against Chelsea.”

There could even be an addition to the squad against Chelsea because Turkish striker Tuncay is making steady progress as he battles to recover from a knee injury.

Southgate said: “The Chelsea game is one of Tuncay’s targets but he will not be considered unless he is fully fit.

“I can’t say yet when he will be ready to start, but he should be very close by the end of next week. The week after is a more realistic target but we’ll have to see.”

Southgate is also awaiting news of Julio Arca’s trip to Argentina to see a specialist about his ankle problem.

Arca is expecting the specialist’s diagnosis some time this week.

The date and time of Boro’s Christmas-time fixture at Manchester United has been switched for live transmission on Setanta.

The match, which was previously scheduled to take place on Sunday December 28, will now take place at 8pm on Monday, December 29.